A video monitoring system includes a camera connected to a network; a recording unit recording, via the network, video images captured by the camera; a display unit displaying video images captured by the camera; a control unit controlling display of video images on the display means; and a joystick controller changing the operation of a joystick according to a control mode selected by the control unit. The joystick controller performs control such that when the joystick controller is controlled in a camera control mode by the control unit, a video capturing operation of the camera is controllable with the joystick, and when the joystick controller is controlled in a function setting mode by the control unit, the operation of a pointer displayed on the display unit or selecting operation for selecting a list item is controllable with the joystick.